The luxurious carriage that drove in measured over ten feet in length and width, with enough space inside for a bed. Four corners of the canopy were adorned with jade spirit lanterns. The outermost layer of the curtain was intricately embroidered with patterns depicting ancient immortal beasts, a lavish decoration.
Pulling the carriage was a silver-horned deer, its two horns shining with a silvery light. Not only was it handsome, but its eyes also revealed a fierce aura that only a martial arts master could possess. Within the courtyard, the masters of Sui Sect at the Spring Surge Realm were like gods filling the heavens, occupying various advantageous positions.
They activated their magical artifacts, unleashing waves of destructive light that made it difficult for Li Weiyi to keep his eyes open. Their presence exuded a terrifying aura, affecting the surrounding atmosphere with every move. Only those martial practitioners who could accompany Yang Qingxi to this estate were deep participants in the unfolding events.
They were eager for the forthcoming turmoil in Li Prefecture and hoped for no setbacks. Shi Liu had a cold smile on his face as he surveyed the extraordinary figures around him. His gaze lingered for a long time on two striking young female warriors from Sui Sect, filled with a murderous intent that was all too apparent.
Yang Qingxi did not get out of the carriage; her cold yet melodious voice spilled from within, “In light of this bloody scene before us, shouldn't the Law King offer an explanation?”
Earlier, Li Weiyi had tested with his lightning frost magic, but seeing that Shi Liu was entirely unfazed, he quickly realized that Sui Sect might have some subtle connect with the Earth Wolf King Army. These two factions likely had established ties long before.
To survive today, he had to seize upon Shi Liu's character weaknesses, provoking conflict between the two sides, seeking refuge amidst the struggle. Shi Liu was not a cunning man of patience; rather, he embodied the common flaws of a barbarian chief—reckless audacity combined with a pronounced concern for face.
He couldn’t rid himself of the propensity typical of bandits to avoid schemes and calculations, preferring outright robbery and violent conflict. Li Weiyi deliberately whispered lowly into Shi Liu’s ear, “Such arrogance.” Shi Liu instantly snapped to attention, his eyes widening in response.
Indeed, Yang Qingxi was junior, yet she had already scorned him, a grand Law King, for staying in the carriage. To be reprimanded by a little girl today would undoubtedly be a severe blow to his ego.
Imagining the mockery he would face from Shi Jiu Zhai and Shi Qi Qing, and the rebuke from the Heavenly King, a throbbing headache began to form for Shi Liu. Shi Liu projected the authority of the Law King, his voice heavy, “With such a grave matter at hand, you send merely a bunch of useless fools to guard?
I think they deserve to die, this ought to teach you a lesson.”
“To murder a whole group of mine and speak of it so lightly—it is unfathomable. If your Earth Wolf King Army does not provide an explanation satisfactory to Sui Sect, this matter cannot be dismissed.”
Yang Qingxi's voice, though ethereal, held a firmness that could not be ignored. After all, she sought to be a leader among the younger generation of Sui Sect, necessitating both authority and reputation. Without these, she could not command respect.
Though Shi Liu cared for face, he did not wish to let a simple misunderstanding create irreparable rifts between the two major forces. Turning to Li Weiyi with a glance, he suggested the latter clarify the details of the situation.
Li Weiyi grasped the implication and nodded slightly, taking several steps forward against the overwhelming pressure emanating from the Spring Surge Realm masters and declaring with defiance, “Yang Qingxi, who do you think you are? Our Law King’s stature is revered across the Southern Regions; what kind of a person requires explanations from a little girl like you?
Such arrogance will surely bring nothing but a bad end.” Shi Liu’s eyes bulged in an instant.
“Preposterous!”
His words provoked the ire of many masters from Sui Sect.
“Looking to die?”
Wang Daozhen revered and admired Yang Qingxi tremendously. He was furious, his figure swiftly transforming into five indistinguishable phantoms. One palm struck out, aimed to obliterate Li Weiyi.
Wang Clan was one of the seven families of Sui Sect, and with his standing among the younger generation, his cultivation reached a height far beyond that of Xu Changlin and Tang Yanzhi. Li Weiyi found himself left with no means to evade this palm, feeling it as an insurmountable wall push towards him, intent on his obliteration.
What was worse, Shi Liu stood idly by. Li Weiyi recognized he had made a grave error. In that life-or-death moment, casting aside all else, he retreated a step, feet in a bow stance, channeling energy into his arms, slamming both palms outward.
The power he unleashed was met with futility, akin to a leaf swaying helplessly in a raging storm, utterly ineffective.
“Boom!”
Li Weiyi was sent flying several feet, crashing heavily against a stone platform beneath the eaves, embedding himself deep within, the surrounding stone cracking upon impact. His arms felt as though they were broken, barely able to lift them again. In his gut, he felt ruined and blood poured from his mouth.
Shi Liu made no move; while Li Weiyi’s insults satisfied him secretly, he could also see through Li Weiyi’s unruliness, knowing this lad had ulterior motives. Yet, regardless of that, he wouldn’t watch idly as Li Weiyi was beaten to death.
The more pressing reason for his inaction was that the strength Li Weiyi had just displayed astounded him, far exceeded his expectations. He could certainly withstand a palm strike from Wang Daozhen. Was this lad truly at the Spring Surge Realm?
Seeing that a mere Spring Surge Realm martial artist survived his strike unscathed left Wang Daozhen feeling inexplicably humiliated and angry; he charged forward, eager to follow up with another blow.
“Good, good, good! To dare kill those beside this Law King implies you hold no respect for my authority!”
Shi Liu, filled with rage, delivered a single, powerful swipe, sending Wang Daozhen crashing through the courtyard wall and past the defensive formation, landing in the street outside.
“Roar!”
Then, Shi Liu let out a roar that resonated like the clash of dragons and tigers against the void. The aura he expelled locked onto all the Spring Surge Realm masters present. One had to demonstrate strength to earn respect; otherwise, future collaborations would only lead to losses at every turn.
“Shh shh!”
Fingers curled in claws, a searing heat erupted from him, raising the ambient temperature in the estate rapidly, as if they had been plunged into boiling water. Streams of fire-like green flames shot forth from his fingertips, colliding with the magical artifacts held by the nine Spring Surge Realm masters.
In the next instant, the green flames licked around the nine experts, instilling sheer terror in them. They sought to flee, only to find themselves utterly immobilized, understanding that they might be turned to ash in mere moments.
It was at this instant that those from Sui Sect recognized the sheer terror of Shi Liu; this demon could effortlessly kill them all. Li Weiyi struggled to channel his energy to heal his wounds while also realizing that Shi Liu certainly wouldn’t watch him perish at the hands of Sui Sect since he held value.
However, he also became aware that Shi Liu was not one to be easily fooled and that he had been somewhat clever, leaving behind too many obvious traces and thus getting himself into trouble.
“Is it snowing?”
A crystalline snowflake fell onto Li Weiyi’s hand, its icy coldness sending a shiver through him. Then another, and another… Heavy snowflakes began to swirl down, covering the entire estate, transforming what should have been a July summer into a scene resembling the depths of winter.
The atmosphere of the world shifted dramatically—it was, indeed, bizarre. The green flames released by Shi Liu gradually extinguished amidst the falling snow. His emerald green eyes held a wary gaze directed toward the carriage nearby, murmuring, “Thirty miles of snow, two hundred miles of sword, Qian Qian the gentleman Yao Qian.
No wonder Yang Qingxi looks down on this Law King; it turns out you are also in the carriage.” Yao Qian’s name bore true weight in the Southern Regions, earning him the title of “Top of Li Prefecture.” With his singular prowess, he subdued an entire generation of the Nine Li Tribe.
It was said that when he fully channeled his energy, he could summon snow within a radius of thirty miles, covering mountains in white and freezing rivers. His gentleman sword could strike down enemies from two hundred miles away.
In other words, within thirty miles, he could alter heaven and earth; within two hundred miles, his sword could send anyone to their doom. With so many legends surrounding such a figure, how could Shi Liu not be wary?
A soothing voice, like flowing water, emanated from the carriage, “It was I who instructed Qingxi to remain in the carriage to warm my wine. Why should the Law King take offense at such a trivial matter? It’s just a trivial Longlin Gang incident.
No explanation is needed; simply hand him over to me.” Shi Liu glanced towards Li Weiyi, who had just climbed out from between the stones. Expressing surprise, he said, “A mere Spring Surge Realm brat.
With your cultivation, why bother squabbling with him?” Of course, Shi Liu intended to keep Li Weiyi safe; this was tied to the secrets of the Nine Li Hidden Clan. Though they were in a cooperative relationship, whoever held more information clearly had the upper hand in benefit distribution.
Li Weiyi had evidently become a crucial card for the Earth Wolf King Army.
“The Law King underestimates that Spring Surge Realm lad beside you too much!”
Yang Qingxi’s enchanting voice chimed in, sounding as alluring as a babbling brook. Merely hearing her voice led one to envision wondrous things, intensifying envy towards Yao Qian in the carriage, who could earn the affection of such an extraordinary woman to warm his wine.
She continued, “To withstand a single strike from Wang Daozhen and quickly rise back to his feet—the lad’s strength likely does not fall below the Pure Immortal Body." Shi Liu understood what the Pure Immortal Body signified—it represented the absolute strongest combat power at the same cultivation level, a qualification befitting millions of inherited families.
It was equivalent to a prestigious badge within a formidable force. The Nine Li Tribe had been brought low fourteen years ago, and no one believed they were part of the ancient clans anymore. Yet, because a Pure Immortal Body emerged, tribes all around believed the Nine Li Tribe regained its vitality, eventually returning to their former glory.
This was the impact a Pure Immortal Body bore! Such a prodigy was something none among the Earth Wolf King Army possessed. Shi Liu stared in astonishment at Li Weiyi—this lad’s talent had reached such heights?
No wonder the Nine Li Hidden Clan valued him so, sending him to Li City for trials, this was certainly not a mere nurturing of an ordinary disciple.
“With a mortal frame, his battle prowess rivals that of the Pure Immortal Body, which is only a fraction of the secrets he carries.”
Yao Qian had yet to exit the carriage, but it felt as if he had eyes everywhere, reconstructing the entire battlefield effortlessly, continuing, “The thirty-three character Departing Spirit Battle Array was broken by a high-level magical artifact; its aura hasn’t dissipated. The corpses scattered across the ground met their end at the murderous insects’ hands.
Although the remains of Shi Chuanyu, Xu Changlin, and Tang Yan have been cleared away, their residual blood still stains the earth. If all this is truly his doing alone, the secrets he harbors are likely beyond imagination.”
Li Weiyi felt cold dread wash over him as just the thought of the luxurious carriage, he sensed that the being within was not merely human, but a deity, a devil. Only a divine entity or a devil could see through the world's every falsehood, seeking the precise answers from the minutiae.
This terrifying aura did not stem from the opponent's unparalleled cultivation, but from an insight and wisdom that could dismantle all his veils. Yang Qingxi’s voice followed closely, “Among his companions at the Nine Li Academy and within the Cang Li Tribe, three have already completed their transformation into the Pure Immortal Body. This group undoubtedly hides some unknown secret.
And I believe the ultimate secret lies with Li Weiyi. Hand him over to us, and everything that has occurred here will have an explanation.” The color drained from Li Weiyi’s face as he realized that his senior brothers, Senior Sister Cai, and Gao Huan had remained within reach of the enemy's forces.
Shi Liu's gaze grew ever darker as he scrutinized Li Weiyi, a chilling intent gathering. This lad had hidden too much from him; how many truths had he spoken? Outside the door, a deep-throated voice resonated with a smile, “Since he harbors so many outstanding secrets, why should we turn him over to you at Sui Sect?
The Earth Wolf King Army is equally interested in unlocking the secrets he holds.” Shi Jiu Zhai stepped into view. Shi Shi followed closely after.
Shi Liu felt that Shi Jiu Zhai’s argument bore merit: “If this lad can trigger several transformations into the Pure Immortal Body among others, the Heavenly King will certainly be very interested. Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, take the lad away first; I will hold the rear.”
(The chapter ends here.)